Writing in the south SCMP, John Hulsman, expert geopolitical speaker, describes the Republican ‘China bashing’ narrative as a ‘fruitless intellectual path of least resistance’.

John believes that the Republicans are praying on Americas uneasy middleclass. Trump, amongst others, are blaming “China” for America’s relative diminution in world power – an inevitable result of globalisation and increased economic competition.

Although this populist theory is making gains in the American electorate in the short term John warns of the dangers further down the line. The problem with this idea, John postulates, is that it encourages Americans to believe that China are part of the problem, rather than serving as part of the solution during a time when global economic growth is ‘desperately scarce’.

John implores all ‘true American grown-ups’ to shout down this dangerous rhetoric at every opportunity, or China – US relations will become so strained that their vital cooperation needed for world growth will be in peril.